Breeding-crate.



J. D. SPANGLER.

BREEDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1912.

1,073,369. Patented Sept. 16,1913.

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COLUMBLIA FLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c.

JACOB D. SPANGLER, OF SHARON, KAfiSAS.

BREEDING-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16,1913.

Application filed May 14, 1912. Serial No. 697,287.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jnoon D. SPANGLER, citizen of the United States, residing at Sharon, in the county of Barber and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Breeding-Crates, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention has relation to breeding crates especially adapted to be used during the copulation of swine and its object is to provide means for effectually holding the sow in position in order that the boar may readily mount her and perform the function without restraint.

With this object in view the crate in cludes a stall into which the sow is led or driven. lVhen she is in the stall a leveroperated barrier is swung against her buttocks which prevents her from backing out of the stall. The forward end of the stall is closed by a door which may be moved in a direction longitudinally of the stall so that the nose of the sow will approximately bear against the door while the said barrier bears against her buttocks. Side bars are movably mounted in the stall and are adapted to be brought in contact with the sides of the sow whereby she is prevented from moving sidewise. Vertically movable bars are mounted in the stall and are adapted to be brought down over the side portions of the back of the sow to prevent her from attempting to jump in an upward direction or arching her back. An adjustable platform is mounted at the entrance of the stall and upon this the boar may stand during the act. All of the movable parts of the crate are controlled by levers which are located in the vicinity of the entrance end of the stall and are within reach of the overseer who stands at that end and observes the progress of the act.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is an elevation viewing the crate at one side. Fig. 2 is an elevation viewing the crate at the opposite side. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the crate. Fig. 4C is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 5 is an end view of the crate, showing the parts in retracted positions. Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing the parts in distended positions. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the door supporting frame and catch of the crate.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the crate includes a stall 1 which is open at its ends. A frame 2 is slidably mounted at one side of the stall and a door 3 is hinged to the said frame at the exit end of the stall. bar 1 is slidably mounted at the opposite side of the stall 1 from that side upon which the frame 2 is mounted and is provided with a catch end 5 which is adapted to engage the free end of the door 3 and hold the same closed across the exit end of the stall. The door 8 is provided at its loweredge with a wheel 6 which is adapted to move along the floor of the stall when the door swings to an open position. A rod 7 is connected with a guide yoke 8 which, in turn, is connected with said bar and which receives between its ends one of the uprights of the side of the stall. This rod 7 is provided with a series of teeth 9 which are adapted to engage a keeper 10 mounted at the outer surface of the side of the stall whereby the said rod is held in an adjusted position. A similar rod 11 is connected with the frame 2 and is provided with teeth 12 which are adapted to engage a keeper 13 at the opposite side of the stall. Therefore, it will be seen that by disengaging the teeth of the rods 7 and 11, that the frame and the bar 41 may be moved. in a direction longitudinally of the stall while the door 3 is held in a closed position across the exit end of the stall. Also, by moving the rod 7 and permitting the rod 11. to remain at a stationary position, the catch end 5 of the bar 4 may be disengaged from the free end of the door and the door may then be swung to an open position. This, of course, takes place when it is desired to liberate the sow from the stall. A shaft 14 is journaled at the forward part of the stall just above the floor thereof and is provided at a point between its ends with a crank 15. A shaft 16 is journaled in the sides of the stall just above the floor in the vicinity of the entrace end and is provided with a crank portion 17. A. bar 18 is pivoted upon the crank of the shaft 14 and the crank portion 17 of the shaft 16. At the opposite sides of the bar 18 the shaft 16 is provided with loops 19, which, when the said shaft 16 is turned, constitute barriers adapted to bear against the buttocks of the sow and prevent her from backing out of the stall.

A handle 20 is carried by the shaft 16 and is engageable with the teeth of a rack bar 21 located at the side of the stall. After the sow has entered the stall the handle 21 is swung whereby the shaft 16 is turned, which brings the barrier portions behind her buttocks as above described. At the same time the crank 15 and crank portion 17 of their respective shafts are swung around the axes of the shafts and the bar is under the belly and breast of the animal. This prevents the animal from squatting. Crank shafts 22 are journaled at the sides of the stall in vertical positions. These shafts are arranged in pairs and upon the cranks of each pair is pivotally mounted a bar 23. One crank shaft of each pair of shafts is provided at its upper end with a crank 2a and rods 25 are connected to the said cranks 24. The rods 25 are provided with teeth 26 which are adapted to engage keepers 27 located at the upper edges of the sides of the stall. It is apparent that as the rods are moved longitudinally the crank shafts 22 are partially rotated and the bars 23 are brought into position against the sides of the sow. Thus the animal is confined against side movement in the stall.

Bars 28 are slidably mounted upon the upper portions of the crank shafts 22 and upon each bar 28 is located a ledge piece 29 which projects at its inner portion beyond the inner edge of the bar upon which it is mounted. Bell crank levers 30 are pivoted to the sides of the stall and the lower ends of thesaid bell crank levers are connected by means of links 31 with the bars 28. Rack bars 32 connect the upper portions of the bell crank levers 30 at the same side of the stall together. The bell crank levers in the vicinity of the entrance end of the stall are provided with handles 33 which carry pawls 34: adapted to engage the rack bars 32 whereby the parts are held in adjusted positions. It is apparent that by swinging the handles 33 the bell crank levers 30 will be turned whereby the bars 28 and ledge pieces 29 will be brought down over the side portions of the back of the sow and thus the animal is prevented from jumping in an upward direction or arching her back. It is apparent that when it is desired to liberate the animal the various retaining bars and barriers are moved in directions just the opposite from that in which they are moved to secure the animal.

At the ends of the stall is 'journaled a crankshaft 35 provided at its end with a handle 36 adapted to engage the rack 21. A platform 37 is pivoted upon the crank of the shaft 35 and is provided upon its up per side with cleats 38. This platform normally lies approximately in the same plane as the bottom of the stall and after the sow has. been secured the shaft 35 is turned b .nieansof the handle 36 and the platform 3( is inclined so that the boar as he approaches the sow may pass up the said platform and the inner end of the platform is permitted to remain in an elevated position upon which the boar may stand with his rear feet during the act.

Therefore, it will be seen that a simple and durable crate is provided for holding the female animal in proper position during the act of copulation while the male is free and unfettered. By making such provision considerable time is saved during the function as the animals are quickly brought together. Again, by reason of the fact that all of the movable'parts of the crate are controlled by levers or rods which extend tothe entrance end portion of the stall, the I 1. A breeding crate comprising a stall, a

frame slidably mounted thereon, a door hinged to the frame and adapted to close the exit end of the stall, a latch bar slidably mounted upon the frame and engageable with the free edge of the door, cooperating with the frame to impart movement to the door, and a movable barrier located in the vicinity of the entrance end of the stall.

2. A crate comprising a stall, a movable barrier at the entrance end thereof, a frame adjustably mounted upon the stall, a door carried by the frame and located in the vicinity of the exit end of the stall, and a latch member for maintaining said door in closed position and disposed to cooperate with the frame to impart movement to said door.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JACOB D. SPANGLER. f [L. s.] Witnesses:

H. H.- FAIR, S. RBOWMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, G. 

